Elections are the main pillars of democracy and have become a commonly accepted means to legitimize governance institutions in West Africa and indeed the world over.
However, some quarters see elections as one key trigger of violence and insecurity in the region.
Better management of electoral processes by key stakeholders – electoral management bodies being the most important ones – could raise the credibility and acceptance of elections, reduce the risk of violent conflicts and thereby contribute to the consolidation of democracy in West Africa.
In this second part of the programme, my panellists will take a critical look at elections and violence in West Africa, as well as the preservation of democracy in Senegal. We also analyse the threat to the democratic institutions following West African leaders’ quest for a long grip on power.
My guests for this panel discussion are: Abdou Aziz Cisse, Advocacy Assistant at AfricTivistes and Uyi Aigbe Governance expert and political activist